[AllTakemichi] Control

Chapter 54

"Can you not make that face?" Takemichi says with a weak smile. "Depression isn't something strange in Japan anymore. Anyone can suffer from it - students with academic pressure, adults trying to survive the grind. Maybe I just pushed myself too hard, that's all. I already got checked. It's mild. I don't even need medication."

He says this to Chifuyu after the day he completely shut everyone out when they came to visit. The smile has returned to his face, but there's still a shadow of exhaustion behind it.

"You're forgetting something," Chifuyu says gently. "You have dissociative identity disorder too."

DID. It's a lot worse than depression in some ways. A deeper wound to the psyche. But Takemichi doesn't respond. He just stays quiet.

He knows he needs to snap himself out of this. Reset his mindset. So he tries to think positively. His body still feels worn out, but it's getting better. No more nosebleeds. No more vomiting blood. After multiple checkups, the doctors say there's no internal damage - just severe exhaustion.

The two nosebleeds... The first one happened when he changed Izana's target. The second, after he caught a glimpse of the future and saved Kisaki. Could it be... is this the toll of time travel?

Is that really the price he pays every time he changes the past?

And then there's that dream. The hourglass. Takemichi seriously starts to wonder - could it be tied to his lifespan? A countdown to death, caused by his power? The thought of dying because of time travel keeps creeping into his mind. But he's not sure. There's only one way to find out: he needs to shake hands with Mikey. But not yet. Not now. Things in this timeline still feel unstable. There's too much left unresolved.

Still, a part of him clings to hope. Maybe those side effects were just temporary. Maybe he's not going to die. God wouldn't be that cruel, would He?

He made a promise to marry Hinata. And if he dies... what would that do to everyone?

He doesn't even want to imagine it.

Just a little longer. He'll know soon.

Come on, Takemichi. Stay hopeful.

People with smiling depression often feel guilty or ashamed of their emotions, so they never talk about what they're going through. That's why you can't push someone like that to open up. The best way to help... is simply to be there. Bring a little joy into their day, and wait. Wait for the moment they decide to let you in.

That's exactly why, despite all his questions, Chifuyu never asks Takemichi what really happened to make him like this. Instead, they go back to how things used to be - quietly looking out for him. Everyone knows that if they act too carefully around Takemichi, he'll pick up on it. And that'll only make him feel worse - more pressure, more guilt.

Takemichi has always been better at giving love than receiving it.

He stays in the hospital until he fully recovers. No one lets him leave until they're absolutely sure there's no damage left in his body. Medical bills? Not a problem for Black Dragon. Kokonoi makes sure nothing gets in the way of Takemichi's peace of mind. He books the best room in the hospital - bright, quiet, and fully equipped - with the best doctors and nurses around.

Kokonoi and Inupi want to stay by his side, take care of him. But after the recent battle, their forces have grown fast, and Black Dragon's reputation is spreading like wildfire in the underground. That means a lot of work. Kokonoi, Inupi, and Taiju take charge, handling everything before Takemichi gets discharged. They want him to rest without worrying about anything.

Takemichi tries to act like everything is fine. But ever since he was officially diagnosed with depression, the signs become more obvious.

He zones out a lot during conversations, his gaze always drifting somewhere far away. People have to call his name several times before he snaps back to reality. Normally, he's either the one starting the conversation or the most engaged. Now, he barely speaks, and when he does, it's clear he's not really interested. Even Baji, Chifuyu, and Kazutora - his usual partners-in-chaos - can't seem to pull him out of it.